Giving Back: How You And The Style Community Can Help Struggling Families

150

Led by HuffPost Impact -- The Huffington Post's section devoted to service, causes, and volunteering -- every HuffPost section is featuring a group or individual who is taking action and inspiring others during these challenging times. Like the rest of the world, our hearts and minds are also focused on Japan, and we've created a resource page for everyone wishing to support the emergency relief efforts.

And we're thrilled to announce that Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, is joining the Huffington Post Media Group as Strategic Adviser For Social Impact. Stone will help the company to create innovative social impact and cause-based initiatives.

AOL/Huffington Post Media Group has also issued a 30-day Service Challenge to every one of its employees worldwide, encouraging them to give their time to non-profits in their local communities and organizing volunteer events in 16 cities.

We hope you'll join us in utilizing the power of online journalism to help people get involved, work together, and bring about real change.

* * * * *

Think of Dress For Success as stylists who want to make a statement -- and not just with fashion.

Founded in 1997, the non-profit has become a leader in helping disadvantaged women achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. They start by giving women a business suit to wear to job interviews, and then provide them with separates or another suit once they enter the work force.

But it's not just about the clothes, of course. Dress For Success also provides "a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life," according to DressForSuccess.org. And that's what they've done for over 550,000 women in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Mexico, Poland and the West Indies. Clients are referred to them by various non-profit and government agencies including homeless shelters, job training programs, immigration services, domestic violence shelters, educational institutions and more.

Dress For Success established the Professional Women's Group (PWG), "which offers women ongoing support as they successfully transition into the workforce, build thriving careers and prosper in the mainstream workplace. Once a woman joins the PWG she is a member for life, able to attend meetings at any affiliate throughout the world, and can benefit from additional employment retention and mentoring programs" as well as the Career Center, "an initiative that promotes confidence and professionalism by providing women career guidance, the chance to acquire technology skills and assistance in their job searches."